The long-running fight over gay marriage in California heads to a federal appeals court Monday. A panel of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals must decide whether a federal judge was correct in ruling that the US Constitution protects the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry.

Obama's nomination of Andrew Traver to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reignites concern that the White House wants to whittle away at gun rights. The last time that happened, Americans armed up.

Guantánamo detainee Ahmed Ghailani was convicted on only one of 284 counts in what was seen as a test case for trying terror suspects – potentially including accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed – in civilian courts.